Interesting People mailing list archives
more on Time to move back to cable -- Verizon to add DSL fees
From: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 10:35:44 -0400
Delivered-To: dfarber+ () ux13 sp cs cmu edu Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 10:21:36 -0400 From: "Steven M. Bellovin" <smb () research att com> Subject: Re: [IP] more on Time to move back to cable -- Verizon to add DSL fees To: dave () farber net In message <6.0.3.0.2.20040414095258.034170f8 () ux13 sp cs cmu edu>, Dave Farber writes: > >Dave, > > Are these "fees" really imposed by the federal government, or are they >just something that the RBOCs just made up to increase their bottom >line? I've heard rumors that such "fees" are not in fact real fees, but >just a way to make more money. If they are bogus, how can they get away >with them? Could they really be trying to rid themselves of DSL customers >in their normal short-sighted manner? The answer, as always, is "yes and no". There are fees, but the amount of the increases does not necessarily correspond to the actual fee charged by the government. My take from an article in yesterday's Wall Street Journal is that the main benefit to the companies is that they can advertise a lower price than they're actually charging. Thus, BellSouth's DSL service will be advertised at $29.95 -- but they'll charge $2.97 more. Of that $2.97, 85% will go to the government. They claim that the balance is used to cover their costs for compliance. Hmm -- I wonder if we'll soon see even lower advertised prices -- with extra "fees" added on for corporate income tax, property tax, franchise fees for antenna towers on municipal property, etc. --Steve Bellovin, http://www.research.att.com/~smb ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as interesting-people () lists elistx com To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
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- more on Time to move back to cable -- Verizon to add DSL fees Dave Farber (Apr 14)
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- more on Time to move back to cable -- Verizon to add DSL fees Dave Farber (Apr 14)